MPD: Two armed robberies within three days last week in Montclair

Police are searching for suspects involved in two unrelated armed robberies that happened within three days and several blocks of each other last week, authorities said.

"It's not often you get these incidents so close together, especially in Montclair," said Detective Lt. Angel Roman.

The first incident involved the robbery of a Chinese restaurant deliveryman of $250 cash and his black iPhone at gunpoint near 20 Wheeler St. about 9:45 p.m. Wednesday night, Jan. 8, police said. Investigators arrested a male juvenile connected to the robbery, charged him with obstruction, and are investigating leads on additional adult suspects, described as black males, about 17 to 19, Roman said.

The second armed robbery occurred Saturday afternoon, Jan. 11, when a masked man pointed a semi-automatic gun at a woman walking to the porch of a relative's Madison Avenue home at about 3:15 p.m., police said.

"Give me all your [expletive] money," said someone who had approached the victim from behind.

She turned around to see a black male pointing a black semiautomatic handgun at her, and wearing a black neoprene ski mask with one large opening for both eyes over his face, police said. The woman threw down her purse, which the man grabbed and ran off with, police said. The victim, meanwhile, turned around to see the alleged robber driving away in a four-door silver vehicle before running inside to call police, authorities said.

When the victim had first arrived at the house, she saw a black male allegedly working on the silver vehicle, which had its hood up, police said. The victim believes this man was the alleged armed robber, police said.

A Coach purse with credit cards and an iPhone inside was stolen, according to police, who said the purse was later located near the Montclair Fire Department Headquarters on Pine Street.

Anyone with information should contact Det. Joseph Anderson at 973-509-4706.

Anyone with information about the robbery of the Chinese food delivery man should contact Det. Terence Turner, 973-509-4724.